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It Was Fun While It Lasted, Verizon HTC One No Longer Unlockable on HTCDev

We all knew it was coming, it was more of a question of when rather than if. Verizon was not to pleased that their new HTC One could be bootloader unlocked through HTCDev.com. The phone and story just hit our hands yesterday, but according to a slew of people pouring into XDA, the ability has already been turned off. If you were one of the early adopters of the One yesterday and managed to get yours unlocked, consider yourself lucky. The rest of us will have to wait and see if our developer community can crack it without HTCDev.

This is crazy! Does att do the same thing? I’m glad I am switching to tmobile and that they are good in my area and not forced to go with verizon.

BOB Dudek

IMO, NOT a deal breaker for the “not so” average HTC1 potential customer.

It was not for me..MY new HTC1 via FedEx from VZW. due in Monday.

And will wait..maybe someday we can unlock this thing..
.A workaround will be (sooner than later) coming .

Thomas Lord

I imagine it may still be possible to do it with revone, although it may take a bit of time for them to adapt it a bit to work with the Verizon model.

FVerizon

Damn it…. I decided to wait until the weekend to get this, now I’m kicking myself….. I hope a solution comes soon. F’ing verizon… I’m going to AT&T after my contract is up….

Chippah

Price is right loser horn,. Just another reason to wait for the NOTE 3!

Cory

Well, this is dissapointing. I was hoping to root the phone so I could delete all the bloatware that Verizon chooses to force on their customers. If I wanted your applications, I could download them from the play store.

Dan

hahahahha verizon

burpootus

The computing paradigms, they are a changing. People are shunning traditional x86 and AMD64 computing devices in droves in favor of locked down lower computing ability ARM mobile devices. Google, trying to emulate Apple’s success in selling mobile devices to business due in part to their security, is moving Android towards true security, which will make rooting harder and then impossible. The largest mobile data providers, Verizon and AT&T, require bootloader locking on their flagship devices, and will probably extend this policy to all devices in the future. T-MO and a few others are picking up some scraps from Verizon and AT&T due to their relaxed attitude towards modding, but when they are no longer struggling and desperate for subscribers, they’ll join the locked down crowd too. The rooting and modding community helped Android take hold in the market and provided a lot of sales momentum, but it’s grown much larger now and they don’t need us anymore. The masses are gleefully embracing the new paradigm. Like it or not, it’s only going to get worse.

Inquizitor

Now I feel a bit foolish for waiting for the black HTC One. Not that foolish, however, as the silver is hella ugly.

Gr8Ray

Funny how I spent so much time yesterday researching this phone and trying to decide if it would be the one to replace my GNex, and suddenly I no longer have any interest in it. What a different a day makes.

GSux

Depends what you’re looking for but any current 4G phone is better than the GNex. What good is the GNex rooted and unlocked when it can’t even last a day even with an extended battery or hold a signal because of the subpar radio samsung threw in it?

Drootz

This doesn’t make much sense (I am hoping this is a temporary thing)…..Because……Why would they remove just this phone from HTCDEV and then leave up the other VZW phones to be unlocked like the incredible 2, the rezound, and the rhyme all on HTCdev still with the ability to be unlocked?

MSmith79

Verizon, why do you insist on making me hate you?

Christian Trevor Clauss

Thank god my contract is up! Hello there T-Mobile HTC One!!!

Unknown2124

Change.org in 3 2 1…

Kevin N

Such BS

ObviousNinja2

I know that it’s not your fault. But having something is awesome and having the entire world just leak it out just made it worse.

Loose lips sink ships.

Ian

Sounds like you’re trying to place blame despite saying “its not your fault”. Is it not also conceivable that because they published it, more people including myself were able to get unlocked before the block?

frhow

A workaround will soon be out. Patience guys, while we work on it…. 😉

al_dizzle419

Best news I’ve heard all day!

al_dizzle419

Does anyone know how to turn off the wifi notification that comes on constantly reminding you of available wifi networks?

NexusPhan69

Ya. Get rid of Verizon.

al_dizzle419

Hahaha good one. But for real though

NexusPhan69

You have to disable system notification. Not ideal, but it’s the only way. Hold down on the notification and click “app info” when it pops up. Un-select “Show notifications”

al_dizzle419

Appreciate the reply!

jnt

I get the frustration, and totally agree. But some of these comments are acting surprised by this… that’s what I don’t get.

Nunyur_Biznezz

pointless. Who cares about unlocking it? Nerd stuff I guess. Better than girls for you guys.

Skittlez

lol wut?

Ian

You’re posting on a tech blog while calling it “nerd stuff”……hmm

JeffColorado

I’m having trouble hearing you…can you take Verizon’s balls out of your mouth for a moment?

Any news on how/if HTC dev will publish kernel source files for the VZW variant?

carmen_bender12

my friend’s
step-mother makes $65 every hour on the internet. She has been without a job
for 8 months but last month her payment was $16266 just working on the
internet for a few hours. Go to this web site and read more http://www.works77.cℴℳ

JeffColorado

I have never seen a single article making me regret leaving Verizon. Everything about them is expensive and annoying and complicated.

Nunyur_Biznezz

enjoy crappy service.

nahbro25

You mean like the great service I get from Verizon on the network extender I had to purchase and the ISP I have to use to make it work?

JeffColorado

Thats the irony…the service has been almost exactly the same. The storefront service has been BETTER…Apparently T-Mobile has the sense to staff their stores with phone nerds instead of clueless sales people.

jsvetek

I’ll ask this here and see what happens:
I have unlimited data and wish to keep it. Fiance is up for an upgrade, does not have unlimited data. Would we be able to have her upgrade for the One, me buy a cheaper/older phone and full price to keep my data and then us switch devices?

Would this work?

abrego47

you can do that as long as you switch the line after the upgrade. i have done it.

jsvetek

Switch line or just devices? I’m looking to keep my number and plan if possible.

abrego47

your device. if you upgrade hers to the one then you can swap the one to your’s. does she have a smartphone? if she does hers will still be the same as it was before

jsvetek

She does. It’s my wayward Thunderbolt. She was looking to get rid of it though.

abrego47

Should be ok

jsvetek

Thanks for the help/answers.

Nunyur_Biznezz

Unlimited data will be gone for good within 10 months so does it matter?

jsvetek

Yea that’s very true as well. I’m just trying to hold out for as long as possible. But that holdout may be coming to an end.

Chris

How do you know that?

JeffColorado

Gone from Verizon maybe. Unlimited data is alive and well on T-Mobile, kthx.

moelsen8

i don’t understand how VZW misses this with every HTC phone they launch.

Shadowstare

I knew it would happen but my goodness that was warp speed fast. Sheeseh

muffnman

I’m glad I ordered online and did in-store pickup after work. I’ll do everything I can muster to work with the developers and assist in testing potential solutions. Sorry guys. Good luck.

Still cant believe this isnt illegal yet to not allow people to have full access to their own devices…

CoreRooted

If you bought the device on-contract, it’s not yours until the end of the contract. If you bought it off-contract, then yeah. It’s ridiculous. Hell, it’s ridiculous anyway, but, legally speaking, subsidized “owners” don’t own the device until it’s paid off.

smokedupdroid

OMG! Sooo glad I got unlocked and rooted last night. Almost waited till this weekend. So FU Verizon!!!

Bob Allen

Shocked, I say! I’m shocked! Not………………..

Glad I have my 64 GB, unlocked, S-Off AT&T version.

tyguy829

If unlocked bootloaders were actually harmful to the network, wouldn’t verizon seek out the people who unlocked already and offer compensation or something to get those “DANGEROUS” devices off the network? Straight BS.

n900mixalot

It isn’t dangerous for the network. No, what it does is cause people to call in and clog up customer service because they don’t know how to unbrick their devices. Then when people like me have billing or *real* technical problems, I have to wait for 15 minutes while they talk to little Doyle’s parents, who bought him one, that he unlocked but since he can’t spell “bootloader” he can’t find the answer he needs to unbrick the device himself.

Ian

Fact: More bricking occurs due to locked down infrastructures. Otherwise there is an overabundance of devs and support material to get you out of almost any situation when things are open.

Enjoy your *real* problems.

tyguy829

Then wouldn’t HTCDev be the perfect solution? You have to log in and identify yourself before unlocking the phone and formally agree that you are voiding your warranty. Plus, the kind of people that tinker with their device know what they are getting themselves into and know that their carrier isn’t going to resolve a problem with the phone. Plus, what @disqus_YCaye5pYNb:disqus said is completely true. The number one cause of people bricking their phones trying to get around the locks verizon puts in place. A streamlined process like HTCDev makes it near impossible, unless you flash a wrong kernel or something later down the road. And like I said, by then you will have formally voided your warranty and it won’t be their problem.

moelsen8

it’d be nice if the simple answer was “you’re out of warranty now, sorry, click” but i doubt that would go over well in terms of customer service.

we’ve been beating this dead horse for years now.. nothing’s changing anytime soon.

C-Law

This is the same reason bmx gave but it’s bs. Have you ever owned a truly open device like a gnex? It is impossible to brick for good. I’ve never heard of someone ruining their gnex and I’ve messed mine up pretty good before. It’s the phones like this that require all sorts of tricks and hacks to unlock that get permabricked and then you can’t start over with factory images so you are screwed if something goes wrong.
I’m pretty sure kids that are rooting/unlocking their phones are smarter than most and are reading forums like xda just like us

Taylor

if people unlock their phones, they have the ability to do things like use mobile hotspot without paying for it, or use google wallet, or any other number of potential “profit” decreasers for verizon. i use quotes because it’s profit that never existed in the first place, only imaginary, projected profits that the company would rather not possibly lose should someone be able to *gasp* do what they want with the phones they paid for.

then again, verizon does subsidize most of the phone’s cost for most people, so the argument gets even muddier, but the crux of the issue is that verizon doen’t give two shits about whether or not you brick your phone; the just want to make as much money as possible. understandable; they are a business, after all; but they shouldn’t be able to make more money by having such a tight grip on people’s private property.

by the way, does anyone know what the laws and technicalities are on subsidized phones? do they ever actually become yours? are they yours at the end of the contract period? or do you have to buy the phone off-contract if you want it to technically be yours?

anyways, that’s all for now. f the police

tyguy829

Ha I think it becomes ‘your’s once your 2 year contract expires or if you pay the ETF. If it was about money, why wouldn’t they want people to brick their subsidized phones? Then they can just say, well, you voided your warranty and now you are screwed. Here, have another one for $600! And the customer would still be under contact, so they couldn’t leave. I just don’t get it. I’m with you though. F the police

trumpet444

Whenever they find a way to screw the grandfathered unl data owners, I see a mass exodus of customers from this company. Verizon has pissed off one too many android users. I’m still with Verizon ONLY because of my unlimited data but once that disappears, and it will, I’m out the very same day.

n900mixalot

And I will tip my 40oz to those people, and watch as they fade into the sunset while VZW comes up with some new scheme to keep me around; e.g., bringing back unlimited data, or deeply discounting other services to get them back.

flosserelli

VZW bringing back unlimited data so they can’t charge you overage fees, or deeply discounting other services? Lol

You are either smoking crack or you are hopelessly naïve.

Justtyn Hutcheson

While I feel sorry for the loss, I gotta hand it to HTC, they moved quick on that one. At least they’re quick to correct their mistakes (let’s be honest, it was supposed to be locked from the get-go). Here’s to hoping there’s another option available “soon”. I’d almost prefer a dev edition over GPE on Verizon though.

jose

The one time I WISH HTC had dropped the ball…

Justtyn Hutcheson

They did drop the ball, they were just able to kick it over to Verizon after the first bounce instead of waiting for it to settle.

Bob Allen

If it’s such a mistake and such a hazard, why is it that every other carrier has a HTC One that can still be unlocked with HTC Dev? HTC doesn’t worry, it’s Verizon that get’s their panties in a wad over the thought that someone may have more control than they do.

Justtyn Hutcheson

I’m certainly not saying it is a hazard, but it was most definitely a mistake. The confidence inspired by them fixing their mistake so quickly was what I was commenting on. I absolutely detest that Verizon locks their devices for no justifiable reason, but that’s their issue. I will simply only purchase devices that are unlockable directly from the manufacturer. I know it is ultimately little more than fist waving and gnashing of teeth, but it helps soothe my conscience that at least they aren’t making any money off my purchases. 🙂

Ian

“Supposed to be locked” , depends on who you ask I guess.

Justtyn Hutcheson

The device was certainly intended by Verizon to not be unlockable as a condition of it being allowed on their network, just like all but a very small handful of other devices. I try to speak from a neutral position whenever possible. I agree that no device “should” be perma-locked, but unfortunately all I can do is make sure I buy devices that are unlockable straight from the manufacturer.

schoat333

Unfortunately, the VZW One probably still has a better chance at a bootloader unlock then the VZW S4 with the newest update.

Justtyn Hutcheson

Yeah, if that update turned on KNOX and encrypted the bootloader, its pretty much GG for the Verizon S4. They’ll need to start working on kexec like they have for the Motorola OMAP devices.

Chad

LOL. That wa sfast

Butters619

You’ll still probably use HTC Dev, you’ll just have to wait until a dev figures out how to change the CID on your device so HTC Dev doesn’t recognize it as a Verizon device.

PhoenixPath

You need S-off to change CID, do you not?

if you can get S-off…why bother with HTCDev?

Butters619

Nope. Both the One X and DNA were originally unlocked by changing the CID (before S-Off was achieved) and going to HTC Dev.

PhoenixPath

Huh…so I learned something new. Cool, thanks. 🙂

Butters619

HTC allows a lot of stuff now without S-Off.

PhoenixPath

Since the HTC One, yep. I was happily flashing kernelsroms on my HTC One before we finally got an S-off hack.

Kernels were discussed as being a neat new trick we could do without S-Off, so I was up on that bit…just didn’t know CID could be changed without it.

That’s ok though. I like learning new things. 🙂

(Yesterday I learned that you cannot lick your own elbow without dislocating something…which apparently hurts. A lot.)

Sporttster

It’s $hit like this that infuriates me with Vz. F em, jack offs….looking for another provider….

n900mixalot

Bye. And good luck with that. I hear Sprint’s network is much better.

snooginsguy

Not that VZW has that great a network. My wife has to use a network extender to get any signal in the middle of a major metropolitan area (Colorado Springs). I switched to a Nexus 4 with Straight Talk, best thing I could ever have done. F Verizon.

nahbro25

Same here. In the middle of a major city I had to PURCHASE a network extender in order to use Verizon’s “quality” network.

PhoenixPath

…and VZW’s is better? I suppose I could generalize like you and claim it’s utter crap compared to T-Mobile because VZW drops voice *and* data between my work and home, guaranteed; while T-Mob happily chugs along on HSPA+ and crystal clear voice the entire way?

Nope, sorry. Doesn’t work that way. Some places are better than others. You’d be amazed how well other carriers will work for people.

The near-instant hive-mind, knee-jerk reaction anyone gets when mentioning jumping from VZW should be everyone’s first clue as to just how bogus that reaction is.

So don’t worry about jumping ship, guys. Wait for your contract to expire and jump. Hold on your dear little VZW and the new service for 14 days…if all is good, drop VZW like a brick; if not, get your money back and try another carrier.

It really is that easy.

FWIW: Don’t believe the coverage maps. They’re worth piss. According to T-Mo I should barely be getting 2G where I live. I have rock-solid HSPA+ and they must be testing LTE in the area because I pick it up several times a day.

chaoslimits

Doesn’t matter if you were unable to unclock it. If the majority can’t there won’t be much development for your unlocked HTC One. GG Verizon.

jose

There’s already a few roms on XDA. I mainly wanted to unlock to get root so I could delete bloat and run wifi tethering. Hoping for a workaround S-Off like they did with the DNA.

Fozzybare

you dont need s-off…

nsnsmj

BS like this just reinforces my belief in only getting Nexus devices. I don’t understand why they want to keep bootloaders locked so badly. I’ll gladly void my warranty to be able to do whatever the hell I want with my device.

n900mixalot

Control. And, so they don’t have to deal with morons who brick their phones then send them in for replacement, or waste their time because they didn’t know what they were doing, or don’t know how to Google answers and solutions on XDA.

doesn’t the DNA bootloader unlock work for the One? I thought I read that somewhere

KB

No suprise here, verizons typical assholery

jose

If Verizon’s management team were on fire and I had water, I’d drink it.

BenderBendingRodriguez0101001

I’d drink the water and then piss on them.

Guest

Gotta wait till they’re dead, then piss on them so the fire doesn’t spread.

SparkysShocker

But you might accidentally put the fire out!

JS629

Drink the water, then piss BESIDE them.

kuboo99

And just like that I no longer want to upgrade from my Galaxy Nexus.

Ian

I pulled the trigger, GNex is now sittin 2nd string to the One, I was able to get it unlocked, CWM recovery, and rooted before the iron curtain came down though.

InvaderDJ

Yeah, I’m really kicking myself for it. I was in the store yesterday morning with the phone in hand, but decided to put it down and order online once I saw that there was a $50 off coupon. I overnighted it, but got it too late.

Hopefully some other way of getting the bootloader unlocked is found.

Sporttster

What needs to be done is bypass that f’ing bootloader altogether and just open the damn phone up! Let them lock it…just bypass the f’ing thing altogether and screw em….

marko358

Glad I snagged one last night and rooted it.

Sporttster

Whoopee, you’re one of ten…..enjoy…..

Bigwavedave25

DANGIT BOBBY!!!

Jonathan Williams

That Verizon ain’t right.

trixnkix637

Why can’t VZW be this quick with updates & phone launches? That was less than 24 full hours I believe.

Greg Morgan

Bc they care more about this then phone updates.

jose

This really blows. My phone was JUST delivered to work this morning. Should have bought it in store. That’s what I get for trying to save a few bucks with the online coupon codes.

DanSan

when it comes to updates and releasing phones they dont give 2 $hits. but god forbid u root it or unblock the bootloader they will call in homeland security on you..

n900mixalot

I’m rooted and unlocked … on Verizon … I don’t see any black helicopters …

DanSan

dont worry, they will come. obama is already listening to your phone calls.

NexusPhan69

And your wall posts.

picaso86

and your browser history….

SkylaC90

The NSA has been listening to your calls for years now, all thanks to the Patriot Act.

trumpet444

…and the current administration that is taking FULL advantage of that privacy grab, all the while playing the game that they are “fighting for you”

racheljacobs

My last pay check
was $9500 working 12 hours a week online. My sisters friend has been
averaging 15k for months now and she works about 20 hours a week. I can’t
believe how easy it was once I tried it out. This is what I do,http://www.jobs34.cℴℳ

NexusPhan69

Stop buying phones and service from them people. Vote with your wallet. They will never change otherwise. You’re just as much to blame as they are at this point. I left.

bizi

Great post… I couldn’t agree more.. Getting on Droid Life and complaining everyday is weak and getting old…

NexusPhan69

I was doing the same thing before hoping they’d listen. Our voices were blatantly ignored and I’m done with it. Verizon lost 9 lines (my family and my girl’s family) that they’ve had for over a decade. Not a single one of us is unhappy. The unlimited data with T-Mobile (for less money) was a huge upgrade for my brother and me.

Unfortunately some of us don’t have the luxury of being able to switch carriers. In my area (Central Florida) all of the competing carriers only have 3G (the street I live on is actually an EDGE zone)! That simply won’t cut it and there is no point in switching to a competing carrier in hopes of “unlimited data” if that carrier has no data service in the first place! Verizon is the only option and they actually have spectacular coverage (4G is pretty much state wide) and they even have coverage over the majority of the areas I travel (FL, GA, SC, NC).

Michael Quinlan

Only 3G… oh. boo hoo. You have a choice – you just don’t want to make it.

I sincerely hope you are kidding! There is no way in hell you could EVER expect me to go from a carrier with solid 40-60mb/s coverage that stretches almost from coast to coast and go to some carrier where I have to go all lion king on my phone just to load Facebook! There is absolutely NO point in switching to another carrier JUST to keep unlimited data when there is no way you could ever even hit 2GB/ month on the carrier’s speed. Oh and there’s the issue with price. With Verizon I get a 20% corporate discount which makes my family plan with 3 lines just over $200/month, all other competitors want the same if not more for the same but they have less coverage!

EDIT: Meant to put 3 lines instead of 2.

michael arazan

Problem is, even the thousands here leaving Verizon isn’t going to make a dent when their customer subscriptions is 1/3 of the country at 100 million users, somehow would have to convince 30 million or more to leave them to get the message through.

Would need some type of Customer Union organization for people to make the decision and follow through for it to happen

tuname1t

This… Sold my unlimited vzw plan on eBay which paid for a new N4 from Google Play. On T-Mos $30/month prepaid with LTE and absolutely zero regrets.

NexusPhan69

I love that $30 plan!!! LTE has been blazing fast. I wish more phones had the free Wi-Fi calling tho. That is the only request I have.

tuname1t

Agreed! Although you can download the Vonage app and get 3k mins a month of WiFi calling for free! Uses your number too. Only downside is you can’t receive calls using the Vonage app so I just call the person right back

NexusPhan69

That is a little messier than the built in T-Mobile Wi-Fi. But, I guess that the calls that usually eat up my minutes are all outgoing when I’m on hold. So I’ll definitely install this ASAP. Thanks.

tuname1t

Ya it’s not ideal but gets the job done if running low on minutes or you know the call will take a while.

KB

Tell me more about the selling your unlimited plan. I’d do this in a heartbeat to grab this t-mo plan.

tuname1t

Basically its called Assumption of Liability (AOL). Verizon has the exact details on their site but the gist is as follows:
You can transfer the liability of your line to another party without incurring an ETF so long as the other person agreed to it. When your auction ends all you have to do is call Verizon (they have a special number for these that gets you a direct connection) and give them the name of the person taking over your line. The party taking your line will then call Verizon and give them their name and the line they are taking over. Once they take over your line you are no longer responsible for it and any personal information associated with it is gone. I actually had a positive ance when this happened and VZW sent me a $40 check for the balance amount. Only caveat is that you lose your number to the person who takes the line. Hope this helps. The AOL process was very simple, the longest part was waiting for the eBay auction to end.

dragonflyr

wow. thanks for the info!

tuname1t

no worries! the more choices we have/the more informed we all are the better!

capecodcarl

I’d get rid of my unlimited plan if I could keep my phone numbers that I’ve had for 10+ years, but I imagine if you ported them out of Verizon that would close your account.

tuname1t

Yes unfortunately that is the only downside of the AOL process. You lose your number to the person taking over your account.

Zack Meltzer

Nope. use Google voice. You won’t have access to THAT number for literally 24 hrs, but as soon at that one day passes your number is ported to their system and accessable through any device. It. Is. AWESOME.

drathos

Love to. But last time I tried service from AT&T or TMO, I had to go 2-3 miles from where I live before I could pick up a signal.

SkylaC90

I completely agree

Fiorta

And yet they gain subs every quarter. They could care less about the root community. It’s a small portion of their customer base.

Michael Quinlan

+1 – If you’re unwilling to do the only thing that will make them change, then stop talking about it.

Jason B

That’s the problem with the internet. Pretty sure Verizon has bots (or some other automated system) scanning the internet for bootloader unlock and root exploits for their phones.

No one can keep a secret, and Verizon gets a whiff of everything on the internet these days.

I’d rather deal with Sprint than have to deal with Verizon and this BS.

Open1Your1Eyes0

Looks like those lucky folks just increased the resale value of their phones.

Greg Morgan

Droid DNA all over again.

Trevor

Verizon’s the coolest!

Bob Allen

Dude – What are you smoking?

He’s Joking

A sarcasm spliff?

Trevor

Sarcasm. I’m smoking a whole lotta sarcasm.

Ron

Verizon almost had my purchase. I was about 10 mins away from heading to the store.

chaoslimits

Lol. I’m holding off till the next Nexus/Christmas. If nothing decent happens on VZW, I’m moving to TMobile (even with their “worse” signal).

jose

I think it’s safe to assume you won’t see any more unlocked/unlockable phones on Verizon. So it’s either upgrade now or switch to another carrier!

T4rd

Sure there’ll be, you’ll just have to pay full retail to get them (dev editions).

Sporttster

I was on T-Mo for a short time and their signal was good and speeds were fast. When a company gets too big for its britches and starts telling its customers whats good for them, time to sail on…..

Tyler Durden

Verizon…

Dan Lopez

Douchebags!

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